In about one hour from the beginning of my starting this post Easter 2012 will be a reality. I have no doubt that Easter and all that it represents is a reality of historical fact and is without a doubt one of our most basic spiritual truths as well. If there was no first Easter; no bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ; then our faith is in vain. Without the first Easter we have nothing and our Christianity would be based on a lie. So, the first Easter and Christianity as well are either absolute truth or absolute fiction. We cannot have it both ways. I won't go into the reasons as to why I believe in the absolute truth of Easter, but I will just say that in my life's journey for me it would require less faith to believe than it would to for me not to believe. Over the centuries since Christ's resurrection untold millions have come to the same conclusion and they have lived and died with that hope.
However, for those of us that still are alive and live in that hope I can't help it but I find myself looking at how far we have come both in our observance of Easter and our worship services in general. The things I'm about to say may sound judgmental, but that is not the reason for my writing. God knows I have no room to judge anyone. I know that what I'm about to say may offend some even though that is not my intention at all. Others may even call my words heresy, but I guess that's okay too because the religious crowd accused Jesus of the same. Not that my words are on equal grounds as Jesus by any means, no they are far from it, but its just a fact that some people clearly do not like to hear anything that is unusual or different from what they have always heard or have been taught. Truth is some can get down right angry if you have a different opinion regarding church matters! If you don't believe me then I suggest you do a little research regarding church start ups and you will find that many began after a church split or fight. It's an ugly fact, but unfortunately it's a true one. However I'll leave that subject alone for another time.
I suppose what I'm trying to say is that I suffer from "Motion Sickness". No not the kind you feel when aboard a ship or spinning in a circle, no this is a sickness caused by going through the motions, specifically in this case I mean our "religious motions" that we find ourselves going through in the name of Christianity.
Recently I listened to a well known preacher on the radio that said something that took me completely by surprise. He wondered out loud about how far we as Christians have drifted back toward some of the forms of worship that were followed during the time of Christ without knowing it? Those early religious practices where mostly religious traditions that, if you lived back then, well you were expected to follow or you would be considered a heathen or blasphemer. This was not from Jesus perspective, but it was from the religious crowd. He then said that whether we know it or not it seems that many times we Christians, or at least those that claim the name of Jesus, fall into the same trap in the things we religiously expect of each other. And on top of that we find ourselves believing that our actions are exactly what God expects before He will notice us or give us His favor. Here are a few examples.
Some Christians believe you must wear certain clothes, or speak a certain Christian lingo, or wear your hair a certain way, or your church pastors must comb their hair and wear their suites with almost the same look, or some believe that churches that sing "the old hymns" are quote spiritual while the ones that sing praise type music are not. Some believe that if you do not act the way they do then you are not even a Christian. Others believe that if you're not in a church every time the door is open then you must be less of a Christian or worse... not one at all! We go on and proudly say that we are not "conformed" to this world while we follow the same expected traditions that our fathers and forefathers set up in the past. We never seem to question if our traditions are really from God. We have become conformed to each others expectations and not necessarily to Gods expectations. Basically, we put God in our box where He can fit into our way of doing things and God help the one that tries to do anything different in our midst. Its sad, but unfortunately we sometimes can feel real good about ourselves just by looking down at those that are not like us. Funny that judging others can make us feel spiritual, go figure?
Some go even deeper by going through ceremonies and rituals following their church traditions in order to gain favor with God or to reach a quote "higher status". Others also add more works to gain salvation. Its an endless cycle that many may even question to themselves, however they do not dare to express an opposite view lest they be ostracized from the so-called faithful. I have heard people say things like ..."I covet your prayers" even though the Bible says "Thou shalt not covet". One church has a praise team to lead the service so others have to have one too. Churches have two services in order to get the quote "Traditional" old timey crowd and the other service is called "Contemporary" in hopes of getting the young folks that like up-beat worship. I'm not saying this is bad, I really don't know? Yet is all this really necessary to be given a chance to be a true follower and worshiper of a living and self-described loving God? It seems that we cannot become one as a body of believers because we keep splitting each other up at every turn!
We go through these same motions in our American churches every Sunday, or others go through the motions on Saturday, and I have to say that all of this working and jerking has led me to feel a little "Motion Sickness". Don't get me wrong I'm not against churches at all, after all Jesus is the head of the church. But, is all of this on going motion that we line up and follow really the church? Honestly, is that where we are in our faith? Or a better question would be...is that where we should be in our faith? Do you and I have to act just alike in order to be considered Christian? Do we all have to jump through the same religious hoops? Or did God have a plan for you or me that is different from my neighbor? If so do I need to judge my neighbor because he isn't just like me? Other than the basic fundamentals of the faith that include believing the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus to pay for our sin and then accepting that as a free gift from God to me...well then ...I think not. Its not my place to be the judge of others.
Easter and Christianity mean that you accept as fact that Jesus died on the cross for you and that he literally rose from the dead on the third day. He conquered death for you and I. You either accept that as fact by faith or you reject it and choose your own way. Jesus said..."Follow me". He never said follow others. When we think that others must follow ours or our churches religious ways of doing things then we are simply stuck in traditions and going through the motions. If you think about it and realize what we expect from each other in the name of religion then you may join me by feeling a little "Motion Sickness".
Jesus was, and is, Easter in the flesh. Don't you think that we should stop adding our traditions, our rituals, our own works, and our own religious twist that do nothing more than make us feel spiritual. That is why Jesus said that in the last day he will say to many "Depart from me I never knew you." Sad words that will be spoken to religious people as well. The Bible also says that "Our works are like filthy rags in the sight of God". It also says that none are righteous...do you understand what the word NONE means? Of course you do. In plain words there ain't nothin' you can do to make God accept you and there ain't none of us that stand a chance to be good enough to be righteous in God's eyes outside of the blood shed for us by Jesus. Take it or leave it.
Unfortunately, Easter morning is one of those times when churches are full of people going through the motions and many are there in order to feel spiritually good about themselves. They are in the mode of religious ritual and tradition and they are not there to worship the one true God. Easter is about a God that traveled through time and space to pay our debt in a way that we never could ourselves. Our motives for church attendance should be more than just motions in front of others.
I wonder if God ever gets "Motion Sickness".
PS...For those of you that believe you have to add more to what Jesus did that first Easter then you have missed Easter all together. When Jesus said "It is finished" He alone had completed the work of redemption. He had no need for another to finish his task. To think otherwise is a false belief. I hope you will think it through.
